Stephanie Tessier is like a proud mom as she beams over pictures of the babies she spent six weeks caring for last summer at an NGO near Capetown, South Africa. She volunteered with up to a dozen babies at Home of Hope, a residence for infants abandoned or severely neglected by their natural parents.
"I had been hearing a lot about Africa on the news and became aware of the issues of war, genocide, poverty and Aids," says Tessier. "I'm moved by human suffering. I don't think any person deserves to die as an innocent victim of disease, poverty, or war."
Tessier, a third year development studies student, spent 12-hour days caring for newborn to two-year olds, many of whom suffered from disease and the effects of having never developed a physical connection to a caregiver. Just giving skin on skin contact was essential for the babies' well-being. Tessier cuddled and played with them, administered medications and meals.
"One baby had TB, FAS and HIV and was severely neglected," says Tessier. "Gunda, who was one of my favourites, had fetal alcohol syndrome. His older brother Ntlanta had a traeche, a tube in this throat because he was born 3-months premature," says Tessier.
Inspired by her increasing awareness and her African experience, Stephanie begins the winter 2009 semester employed for a co-op work term at SaskTel in Regina. A large telecommunications company, SaskTel has a diverse corporate social responsibility portfolio which includes developing nations. They found just the right fit in Tessier's knowledge of development studies and experience in Africa for their Container of Hope program. As a project manager, she will work directly with someone from Tanzania to raise donations to fill a 40-foot container to send to people in need in Tanzania.
"I'll go into small communities to talk about what is going on in Africa and see if the community will fill a container. SaskTel doesn't have staff with education in development studies, so I hope to bring fresh ideas and perspectives on the work they are doing now."
Development work is quickly becoming Tessier's passion and she credits the development studies program with allowing her to follow her interests and build her knowledge of African development issues.
"Being a global citizen means understanding that everything we do in this world is connected to other people no matter how far away they are," says Tessier. "You don't have to be a rich or powerful person to do a lot."